If you’re looking for a business opportunity in a professional setting, there are plenty of avenues to explore. While many are tempted to start an enterprise from scratch, buying an existing business will provide income from day one and will usually make it easier to secure funding.

It’s worth considering where your own skills lie and how hands-on you want to be in your new business. If you’re considering investing in a business in the finance, IT, training or professional services niche, it’s likely you already have relevant experience to draw on and a reasonable understanding of your target market. With the knowledge and ambition to take an existing operation to the next level, a small company could soon become big business. It may be, though, that you’re in the market to acquire a successful enterprise that already has a management team – and a steady revenue stream - in place.